Environmental Protection Act (EPA)
Originally Title 4.
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 60 Felonies and misdemeanours
1 A custodial sentence not exceeding three years or a monetary penalty shall be imposed on any person who wilfully: a. fails to take the safety measures prescribed for the prevention of disasters or fails to comply with the prohibition of certain production methods or the keeping of certain stocks (Art. 10); b. puts substances into circulation which he knows or must assume may present a danger to the environment or indirectly endanger people when used in a certain manner (Art. 26); c. puts substances into circulation without informing recipients about their environment-related properties (Art. 27 para. 1 let. a) or providing instructions on their required handling (Art. 27 para. 1 let. b); d. handles substances contrary to instructions in such a manner that they, their derivatives or waste may present a danger to the environment or indirectly endanger people (Art. 28); e. infringes regulations on substances or organisms (Art. 29, 29b para. 2, 29f, 30a let. b and 34 para. 1); f. handles
Art. 63 — Amended by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239). Para. 1 — Amended by No II 1 of the FA of 19 March 2010, in force since 1 Aug. 2010 (AS 2010 3233; BBl 2009 5435). Para. 1 let. e — Amended by Annex No 4 of the Gene Technology Act of 21 March 2003, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4803; BBl 2000 2391). Para. 1 let. f — Amended by Annex No 4 of the Gene Technology Act of 21 March 2003, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4803; BBl 20
Art. 61 Contraventions
1 A fine not exceeding CHF 20,000 shall be imposed on any person who wilfully: a. fails to comply with the limitations of emissions stipulated in this Act (Art. 12 and 34 para. 1); b. fails to comply with remediation orders (Art. 16 and 32c para. 1); c. fails to carry out officially ordered soundproofing measures (Art. 19–25); d. provides false or incomplete information or instructions (Art. 27); e. handles substances with no accompanying information or instructions in such a manner that they, their derivatives or waste may present a danger to the environment or indirectly endanger people (Art. 28); f. burns waste illegally outside installations (Art. 30c para. 2); g. deposits waste outside authorised landfills (Art. 30e para. 1); h. infringes the notification requirements in connection with waste (Art. 32b para. 2 and 3); i. infringes the regulations on waste (Art. 30a let. a and c, 30b, 30c para. 3, 30d, 30h para. 1, 31b para. 3, 32abis, 32b para. 4 and 32e para. 1–2bis); j. infringe
Para. 1 — Amended by No II 1 of the FA of 19 March 2010, in force since 1 Aug. 2010 (AS 2010 3233; BBl 2009 5435). Para. 1 let. h — Amended by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239). Para. 1 let. i — Amended by No III of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239). Para. 1 let. j — Inserted by No I of the FA of 15 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 648; BBl 2023 13, 437). Para. 1 let. mbis — Inser
Art. 61a Evasion of incentive taxes
1 Any person who wilfully obtains an unlawful tax advantage for him- or herself or for another person in relation to the tax laid down in Article 35a, in particular by evading the tax or unlawfully obtaining an exemption from, refund or reimbursement of the tax, shall be liable to a fine of up to five times the amount of the unlawful tax advantage. 2 An attempt is a criminal offence. 3 If the offender acts through negligence, the penalty shall be a fine of up to three times the amount of the unlawful tax advantage. 4 If the unlawful tax advantage cannot be determined precisely, it shall be estimated as part of the administrative procedure. 5 The prosecuting and adjudicating authority is the FOCBS.
Art. 65 — Inserted by No I of the FA of 21 Dec. 1995 (AS 1997 1155; BBl 1993 II 1445). Amended by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239).
Art. 61b Obstructing the collection of incentive taxes
1 A fine not exceeding CHF 30,000 shall be imposed on any person who wilfully: a. fails to declare or incorrectly declares data and objects relevant to the collection of the tax as set out in Article 35a paragraph 1; b. conceals material facts in an application for a tax refund in accordance with Article 35c paragraph 3 or submits untrue evidence of such facts; c. provides false information in his or her capacity as a person obliged to provide information (Art. 46); d. fails to properly keep, make out, retain or submit accounting records, receipts, business documents and other records or fails to fulfil his or her duty to provide information (Art. 46); e. impedes or obstructs the proper inspection process, or makes it impossible to carry out an inspection properly (Art. 46 para. 1); or f. violates an implementing provision whose infringement has been declared a criminal offence by the Federal Council. 2 An attempt is a criminal offence. 3 If the offender acts through negligence, the pe
Art. 65a — Inserted by Annex No 4 of the FA of 15 March 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 376; BBl 2022 2651). Amended by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239).
Art. 62 Application of administrative criminal law
1 Articles 6 and 7 of the Federal Act of 22 March 1974 on Administrative Criminal Law apply to offences under this Act. 2 For offences under Articles 61a and 61b, the other provisions of the Federal Act on Administrative Criminal Law also apply.
Para. 1 — SR 313.0 Para. 2 — Inserted by No I of the FA of 21 Dec. 1995 (AS 1997 1155; BBl 1993 II 1445). Amended by Annex No 4 of the FA of 15 March 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 376; BBl 2022 2651).
Art. 62a Administrative assistance
1 The following authorities shall support each other and provide each other with the information they require to prevent and prosecute offences and to enforce measures under the legislation on the environment, nature and cultural heritage protection, landscape protection, water protection, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, forest conservation, hunting, fishing, genetic engineering or handling animals and plants of protected species: a. the Federal Office; b. the FOCBS; c. the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office; d. the Federal Office of Police; e. the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; f. the cantonal criminal and administrative authorities; g. other federal criminal or administrative authorities designated by the Federal Council, insofar as this is necessary for the fulfilment of tasks and duties under this legislation. 2 The information disclosed may also include sensitive personal data relating to administrative and criminal prosecutions or sanctions insof
Art. 67 — Inserted by No I of the FA of 27 Sept. 2024, in force since 1 April 2025 (AS 2025 178; BBl 2023 239).